Braided semi-finished products and braiding techniques

Abstract

Traditionally, braiding is regarded as a manufacturing method for narrow fabrics like cords and ropes. New braiding methods allow the manufacture of structures with complex geometries which are used in lightweight construction solutions, for instance in vehicle engineering. Braiding plays a special role in the production of reinforcement structures due to the adjustment of the angular orientation in the braiding and to intertwine threads in nearly all three spatial directions at continual fiber orientation. 3D-braiding methods facilitate the manipulation of fiber orientation and thus ensure high strengths and stiffnesses at reduced mass. This chapter describes the various braiding technologies for the manufacture of 2D-and 3D-structures. The principle and functionality, as well as the most important braiding machine components are explained in detail. Potential application areas of this process based on different examples are shown in this chapter, also, possibilities for functional integration are discussed.